Step-ladder



(No'Model.) l o; R'. WILLIAMS.

STEP LADDER.

No., 402,215. Patented Apr. 30, 1889.A

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, UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES RLVILLIAMS, OF NEWARK, NEV YORK.

ersp-LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 402,215, dated April30, 1889.

Application iled December 17, 188B. Serial No. 293,886. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES R. WILLIAMS, ofNewark, in the county of Vayne and State of New York, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Step-Ladders, which im? provelnent isfully set forth in the following specification, and shown in theaccompanying drawings.

The object of my invention is to provide a step-ladder, substantially ofcommon kind,

arrangement of the parts is such that the shelf folds when the parts ofthe ladder are folded or closed, and is brought to a horizontal positionwhen the ladder is spread for the purpose of use.

The-invention is hereinafter more fully described, and particularlypointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure' l is a side elevation of the upperpart of a stepladder in position for use, the shelf being shown in twopositions by full and dotted lines; Fig. 2, a front view of the same;IFig. 3, a horizontal section taken as on thedotted line in Fig. 1,apartof th'e step beingbroken out to uncover parts beneath, various partsbeing shown in two positions by fullv and dotted lines; and` Figs. 4, 5,and 6, drawn to a larger scale, show forms of one of the connections.

Referring to the parts shown in the drawings, A A are the sides of thestep-ladder supporting the steps B B, and C the rear legs or braces oftheladder.

D is a folding shelf attached by hinges a at the right side of theladder on a level with the step B, next below the upper step of theladder. The sides A of the ladder are each divided into two parts, o b',with an opening,

"10, between, and a bar, c, is secured rigidly to the under side of theshelf, the bar being of sufficient length to pass through said opening pand extend some distance under the step B, as shown. This constitutes astrong support for the shelf when in its horizontal position. The shelfis preferably made with a part, e, extending through the opening p tomeet the end of the step B, as shown in The shelf is operatedautomatically by the following means: d is a lever fulcrumed at f to theunder side of the step B and provided with a link, g, to connect itYwitlrthe rear legs orbraces, C, of the ladder, as shown. The lever isconfined and supported by an angular guard or loop, h, secured to theunder surface of the step. Il is a rod connecting the lever d. with thebar c, the connection being at the edge of the bar at some littledistance away from the hinge a. This connecting-rod is joined both tothe lever and bar in some simple manner that will admit of a sort of auniversal or free movement for it, so that the rod will not bind orcramp when the parts are operated.

It will be understood from the description that when the rear braces orlegs, C, are swung away from the sides A A in the act of opening out theladder, the bar c will be drawn by the connecting-rod in a directioninward, causing the shelf to be brought to a horizont-al position, andwhen the ladder is closed the lower part of the bar will be pushedoutward,

causing the shelf to be folded up against the side of the ladder, asshown by dotted lines in the various figures, the joints at Z and nbeing made sufficiently free to allow of the Swingin g motion of theparts.

The joint at ois always at a point below the level of the axis of thehinges a, so that the bar and shelf will always move in obedience to theaction of the connecting-rod as the lat- I ter is actuated by the lever.

Itis desirable to have the connecting-rod joined to the shelf-bar insome manner by which it may. be readily detached therefrom, so that theshelf may kremain folded and at rest when itis not wished to use it.Figs. 4 and 5 show a form of connection in which the rod is formed witha hook to enter an eye, k, rigid with the bar. In this construction thehook may be raised out of the eye Whenever the step-ladder is to beusedwithout the shelf. Fig. 6 shows another simple form in which the endof the connecting-rod is eX- panded and formed with a key-hole opening,r, to be passed over and back of the head of a screw, s, rigid in thebar. This form also admits of an easy disconnection between they rod andbar.A

IOO

Guide-pieces i t arc secured to the step B to cause the rear legs orbraces, C, of the stepladder to Colne squarely against the sides A whenthe ladder is closed. The outer ends of these guides are inclined ortapered, as shown, to more readily guide the legs to their places. Theaction of the lever (l and link g sometimes tends to throw the legs Ctoward one side when the ladder is closed. This makes these guidesnecessary.

'hat I claim as n1y invention isl. A step-ladder having the side Aformed with an opening, in combination with a step for the ladder, and ashelf joined to the outer surface of said side A and provided with asupportin g-bar held in position to pass through said opening in theside A and to rest against the under surface of the step, substantiallyas described.

2. A step-ladder having sides A, in combination with a step for theladder, and a shelf joined b v a hinge to a side A and having asupporting-bar held to pass through an opening in the side A and to bearagainst the step, said shelf being formed with a part extending throughsaid opening` in the side A to meet the step, substantially as shown anddescribed.

A step-ladder having the side formed with an opening, in combinationwith a step, rear legs or braces for the ladder, a folding shelf joinedto said side by a hinge and provided with a supporting-bar held to passthrough said opening in the side, a lever secured to said step, a linkconnecting said lever and rear braces, and a connecting-rod joining saidlever and supporting-bar, substantially as shown and described.

1. A step-ladder having the side forined with an opening, in combinationwith a step, rear braces for the ladder, a shelf joined to said side bya hinge and provided with a supporting-bar passing through said openingin the side, a lever secured to the step, alink connecting said leverand rear braces, and a rod connecting said lever and supporting-bar,said connecting-rod being detachable from said supporting-bar,substantially as and. for the purpose set forth.

CHARLES R. WILLIAMS.

lVitnesses:

GEO. S. MoRLEY, E. '.l. GRANT.

